Monday, October 14. 2013

I continue to lag behind on these posts since I have been involved in other projects, including the location shooting for the upcoming Chicago Fire episode on NBC. So this will serve to get you a peek at another major milestone in our restoration efforts. Great Northern X-1390 was a company service tank car in relatively good condition, that was in great need of restoration. At 20,000 gallons capacity it is our largest tank car. Starting on September 23, a contractor provided services to clean and repaint the car. None of these efforts are without DRAMA, but the job is now complete. What follows is a sort of photo essay with captions providing most of the information. Of course donations to cover the work and provide seed money for future indoor storage, you are all encouraged and welcome to send your support to fund RX1390. Thanks. (Did I say this would be a LONG report??)

First Cleanup at 6000 Psi Pressure Wash

Pete Galayda Delivering Removed Dome Walkways to Shop

I am having a difficult time getting pics formatted for easy viewing so bear with me. OK I give up and will just post the pics centered in a long line. Next - - -

Car on spot in the bright sun. Take a good Look at the last of the original GN lettering.

Here is a last look at the remaining orange color on the dome.

And then - as the work proceeds in an unprecedented string of perfect weather days. - - -

The dome is in a silvery gray primer

Dome viewed from the west

Paint is next - - -

A lift was used to gain access all around

First orange paint goes on the dome

The color makes a big difference. This is our first look at the orange - - -

It did not take long for all the orange to glow on the dome. It was just too exciting for my shutter button went off at a moments notice

The entire car body received two coats of primer

Here is the first look at the black

The black is also used on the underframe and trucks

The east side is now half black, whatever that means

And the black follows on the west side

This is only the first coat of finish color but it gives great promise for the finished job

We relocated the worksite to the south of south junction so the trolley power could be restored. Always safety conscious, we turned that off when the painters were working under our overhead wires.

The second coat of black has been applied. Or the third coat depending on how you are counting.

A new morning and the black has been cocooned in plastic as preparations are made for the orange.

The final coat of orange, starting on the top.

Note that the dome has been sanded before the final coat of orange

Our painter, Willie, poses by the completed car

At last the car is painted, but hard to see the full impact with all the wrapping and masking still in place. Ask and you will receive. We will close with two shots of the train pulling the car along with DODX 12661. Still wet, the car is to be placed temporarily inside a Barn.

Dear sir,What a magnificent job done by all concerned.When complete,I`m sure it will look wonderful.I can`t believe the size of the thing!Here in Australia our oil tankers were half the capacity of that monster...
Well done.Peter.

We used a two part catalyzed acrylic urethane product manufactured by CARBOLINE. They have been supplying coatings to railways for many years. The various layers were spray painted using an airless sprayer.
Bob Kutella

Yes. I have been doing all the lettering on the freight car restorations and for some of the other cars. I have some of the artwork done, although the letters are not applied in a strict interpretation of stenciling. We transfer the pattern to the car, and then hand paint for most of that.
Bob Kutella

I am doing a report on Tank Car. I would like to ask how much does it cost to restore a tank car, how long does it takes to restore a tank car and what are the constraints of entering the refurbishment business? How much capital would be needed to start a tank car refurbishment business? Progress Rail Service-A Caterpillar Company is a large refurbish entity, how does their present play a role in anyone trying to get into the refurbishment business?

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Roger Kramer about New Diesel Arrives for the CollectionThu, 12-08-2016 07:46Hi Andy I know, you guys did an
excellent job of unloading the
diesel as well as the turn table!
No other museum could accomplish
what you fellas [...]

Matt Maloy about More Happy Holiday ScenesWed, 12-07-2016 19:23There has been a rumor going around
the CNW Dash-9 twins are now owned
by the Museum. Is this true, or are
they still "in storage"? If memory
serves [...]

Raphael about More Happy Holiday ScenesTue, 12-06-2016 17:42"Four pieces of our CNW equipment"?
i thought UP owned the 2 Dash-9's?

Nick about More Happy Holiday ScenesTue, 12-06-2016 17:36I noticed in the fifth picture the
caption referred to the two stored
CNW's as "our" equipment. Has the
ownership of these units changed to
IRM?